Global democracy sees improvement while U.S. rating slips, Economist Intelligence Unit report finds

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its annual Democracy Index report on February 15, 2025, revealing a modest global improvement in democratic health while highlighting a concerning decline in the United States' rating. The report, which assesses 167 countries, found that the global average score rose for the first time in three years, driven by gains in Asia and parts of Europe. This positive shift occurred despite the U.S. experiencing a further slip in its classification, moving it further from the top-tier 'full democracy' category it once occupied. The 2024 index recorded a global average score of 5.44 out of 10, a slight increase from 5.37 the previous year. This recovery was largely attributed to post-pandemic normalization in electoral processes and civil liberties across many regions. Notably, improvements were seen in countries like Thailand, which held competitive elections, and several nations in Eastern Europe. However, the report's authors caution that this uptick is fragile, with nearly half of the world's population still living under some form of authoritarian rule and geopolitical tensions posing ongoing threats to democratic institutions. In contrast to the broader trend, the United States saw its score decline, solidifying its status as a 'flawed democracy.' The EIU cited persistent political polarization, erosion of public trust in institutions, and dysfunction within the federal government as key factors in this downgrade. Constance Hunter, the EIU's chief economist, emphasized in an interview with 'The Takeout' that internal divisions and the weaponization of democratic processes for partisan gain are undermining the foundational stability of American democracy, even as the global picture shows tentative signs of resilience.